Data from War Planes of the Second World War:Volume Ten Bombers and Reconnaissance Aircraft[1]
General characteristics
Crew: 3
Length: 23.25 m (76 ft 3 in)
Wingspan: 31.29 m (102 ft 7¾ in)
Height: 6.10 m (20 ft 0 in)
Wing area: 88.0 m² (947.22 ft²)
Empty weight: 21,000 kg (46,297 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 36,000 kg (79,366 lb)
Powerplant: 4 × Junkers Jumo 222A-3/B-3 24-cylinder liquid cooled engine, 1,864 kW (2,500 hp) (take-off power) each
Performance
Maximum speed: 690 km/h (373 knots, 429 mph) at 7,200 m (23,620 ft)
Cruise speed: 487 km/h (263 knots, 303 mph)
Range: 3,395 km (1,835 nmi, 2,110 miles)
Service ceiling: 11,350 m (37,240 ft)
Rate of climb: 551 m/min (1,810 ft/min)
Armament
Guns: 2 × 20 mm MG 151 cannons in remotely operated dorsal barbette and 2 × 13 mm (.51 in) MG 131 machine guns in tail barbette
Bombs: up to 5,000 kg (11,023 lb) of disposable stores in internal bay
There was an earlier version of the Ju 488 with the same wings, tail and cockpit but with a lighter fuselage and BMW801TJ turbocharged engines. This model was nearing completion in France but was destroyed at the time of the invasion. It's service ceiloing was expected to be over 16300m.
The above illustrated version was under construction in Germany itself. It differed most notably in the Jumo 222A/B engines which though much more powerful had a lower altitude capability. The aircraft was also to receive the Jumo 222E/F which had a two tage three speed intercoooled supercharger. Six of these engines were built and tested.
The Jumo 222 had overcome its development problems and was scheduled for production.
The version with the Jumo 222/EF engines was of course expected to be faster: about 440mph.
